Following nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.
During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.
The Unthinkable Danger
The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting mankind into total ruination.
This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.
"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.
For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they go against each other?"
"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."
A Precipice of Catastrophe
What is notable about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.
"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."
The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.
A Divergent Perspective
Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.
"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."
Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."
A Unprecedented Partnership
The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.
"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."
Modern Parallels and Present Perils
Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn